In the past generation, Brazil has risen to become the seventh largest economy and fourth largest democracy in the world. Yet its rise challenges the conventional wisdom that capitalist democracies will necessarily converge to become faithful adherents of a US-led global liberal order. Indeed, Brazil demonstrates that middle powers, even those of a deeply democratic bent, may differ in their views of what democracy means on the global stage and how international relations should be conducted among sovereign nations. This volume explores Brazil's postures on specific aspects of foreign relations, including trade, foreign and environmental policy, humanitarian intervention, nuclear proliferation and South-South relations, among other topics. The authors argue from a variety of perspectives that, even as Brazil seeks greater integration and recognition, it also brings challenges to the status quo that are emblematic of the tensions accompanying the rise to prominence of a number of middle powers in an increasingly multipolar world system.

Oliver Stuenkel is Associate Professor in the School of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), Brazil.Matthew M. Taylor is Associate Professor in the School of International Service at American University, USA.

“Brazil on the Global Stage … will be of paramount interest to scholars of emerging powers, the global liberal order and America’s role in it, international institutions, and Brazil itself. … Held together by a clear common focus throughout the volume, these contributions amount to a convincing picture of Brazil as a rising power that … is held back from doing so by the inherent inequalities in the international system that interfere with their just implementation.” (Dana Zartner, International Relations, Vol. 14 (4), December, 2016)

“Stuenkel and Taylor have done an admirable job putting together a key collection of background primers on contemporary Brazilian foreign policy. Readers grappling with Brazil’s growing role in the world would be well advised to include this book on their reading lists if they wish to add an important level of nuance and context to their understanding of Brazilian foreign policy.” (Sean W. Burges, International Affairs, Vol. 91 (6), 2015)